UNHCR’s main governmental counterpart in Syria is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (MoFAE). Line ministries essential for UNHCR’s work include the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MoSAL), the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment (MoLAE) and the Ministry of Interior (MoI). Furthermore, UNHCR works with the Ministries of Health, Education, and Higher Education. UNHCR also maintained and expanded relations with government institutions and local partners at sub-national level. UNHCR with other UN agencies maintained its relations with the inter-ministerial Coordination Commission on Returns. UNHCR’s position as lead agency for the Protection/ Community Services, Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFIs) sectors made it a key player in the coordination structure and response and in coordinating with other hubs in the neighbouring countries. In the Damascus hub, the Shelter sector is co-led by UNHCR and MoLAE, whereas the NFI Sector is led by UNHCR in close coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), a key humanitarian agency in Syria, entrusted by the Syrian Government with overseeing operational assistance. In 2018, a total of 36 agencies participated in UNHCR led sector coordination mechanisms, with some 64 reporting to the protection sector and coordinating either at national or at field level. Given the humanitarian situation in Syria, some of the partners are common to Protection, Shelter and NFI sectors. The Sub-national operational working groups for Protection, Shelter and NFI sectors remained active in 6 different field locations within Syria. Throughout 2018, the UNHCR-led sectors contributed significantly to different preparedness/response plans including for Afrin, East Ghouta, South-west Syria, North-east and North-west Syria. In 2018, the Shelter sector partners collectively implemented a total of 189 shelter projects benefitting over 518,000 people; the NFI sector partners reached over 4.5 million people with over 4.6 million items including through 16 inter-agency convoys. Capacity building of partners continued in 2018. Shelter and NFI sectors organised information management trainings and orientation sessions on GBV mainstreaming in shelter and NFI responses. The Shelter and NFI sectors also drafted HNO 2019 which was shared with the line ministries for comments.
70 partners of the Protection and Community Services Sector and its sub-Sectors carried out some 5.6 million protection interventions to support persons in need in 233 sub-districts/1,810 communities/neighbourhoods, including 166 in hard to reach areas. Out of the overall interventions, 36% were Protection interventions, 24% Child Protection, 15% GBV and 26% Risk Education. 31% of interventions benefitted girls, 28% benefitted boys, 31% benefitted women, and 10% benefitted men. Aleppo Governorate continued to have the highest percentage of interventions (21%), followed by Rural Damascus (19%), Homs (10%) and Tartous (8%). 66% of the overall interventions were provided in sub-districts with a severity scale 4, 5 and 6; 80% of the sub-districts with a severity scale of 4, 5 and 6 were reached. Interventions were carried out through a variety of static facilities (Community Centres, Child Friendly Spaces, Women and Girls Safe Spaces), and mobile/ outreach teams with different profiles. In line with the principle of centrality of protection, the Protection Sector continued to provide advice and advocacy support to the humanitarian leadership on issues of relevance. More than 15 policy notes/ interventions were compiled during the year, including an advocacy plan for the Humanitarian Coordinator. In 2018 UNHCR partnered with 30 organizations for implementing its community-based protection programs as well as for delivery of life-saving assistance to IDPs, returnees and refugees. In total, 30 partnership agreements were concluded, implemented by two governmental ministries, one UN agency, nine international NGOs and eighteen national NGOs. Almost half of UNHCR’s Operational budget was implemented through partners.